barbara phelpsInfluenced by her background in theatre, Barbara's work is usually conceptual and 3D in structure. She has focused on themes of personal identity, memory, space and loss. She usually begins with an emotional response to something seen or read, an object, quote or written article that resonates with her in some way.
The techniques Barbara employs include stitch, fabric manipulation, printing and text. while her materials range from vintage linens and cottons to plastics, wire and plaster, each specifically chosen to express the concept. Barbara's Gallery |
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Chris GriffithChris lives and works in Berkshire as a textile and mixed media artist and co-founded Diversity in 2007 with fellow textile artist Karen McCarthy.
Her work always has some element of stitch in it, whether it be hand or machine, and there is always a French knot in there somewhere. She uses several techniques, building up layers until she gets the result she needs. The materials and colours she uses are led purely by her inspiration for a particular piece of work, and her inspiration comes from nature and what is around her. Chris's Gallery |
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Hilary WilliamsHilary is interested in the ancient civilisations of the Middle East and the way that the same symbols are repeated throughout history and across different countries. The processes of disintegration and decay over the centuries have created a wealth of images which are fascinating to interpret.
For the past few years she has been looking at past migrations of the ancient world. The objects that people carried with them, whether of practical or emotional value, provide links across time and space. Hilary's gallery |
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Joan McQuillanJoan is excited by the things she sees in everyday life and is always looking at the minute details of texture, colour and the patina of surfaces which never fail to ignite endless ideas.
She is passionate about embroidery and transforms ideas and images from sketchbooks into decorative work using a technique of layering fabrics, thread, paper, beads, lino print and dyes together with free machine embroidery and hand stitching, resulting in vibrant textured pieces of work. Joan's gallery |
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julie winterJulie's work is about the celebration of colour and form in landscape. Her art work is an emotional response to the nature's awe-inspiring scenes which she has found intriguing. Captivating views, often of the countryside or the coast, offer the opportunity to stop and gaze, to become lost in the beauty of the land, providing a brief escape from the preoccupations of life.
Julie's photographs and sketchbook explorations become the starting point for the work. Using a variety of media including paper, paint, fabric and thread which she layers and distresses, she creates her impressions of the scenes she loves. She then combines machine and hand stitching to build up the surface texture. Julie's Gallery |
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LOIS BELLEWLois's work as a stitched textile artist allows her to consider many issues affecting our lives today. She has covered environmental issued including the pollution of the world's oceans and sea life due to plastic waste.
She has stitched and printed cloths to highlight the importance of developing brownfield over greenfield sites. Since achieving an MA in Textiles in 2016 she has been looking at memory and how personal identities are created by singular life experiences. Lois's gallery |
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Madelaine hutchinThe inspiration for Madelaine's art and quilts comes from her many travels and especially her time living in Africa and Asia. She enjoys using native fabrics particularly Thai silks, Indonesian batiks and African kangas.
Influenced by art, religion and the environment, she makes and exhibits decorative textile wallhangings, often working on commissions from churches. Madelaine's gallery |
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Marian spencerThe inspiration for Marian's pieces of work has been developed over the years mainly from observation, sketches and photos from nature, beaches, landscape and organic shapes. She likes to re-visit the same themes and scenes to get to the essence of the subject.
To interpret these she uses mixed media - paper, paint inks and gesso, machine embroidery, hand stitch and wrappings - and to bring as much movement as possible to her work she incorporates wire to make mostly 3D structures. Marian's gallery |
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susan AttwoodSusan has a love for three dimensional work, and her recent work has been about particular locations, their transience, change and deterioration.
Our newest member, we're excited to see how her work develops as part of DIversity . Susan's Gallery |
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Terry donaldsonTerry’s work depicts the beauty and fragility of coastal landscapes, helping people engage more deeply with them. Her focus is on nature-connectedness and the apparent tension between the needs of people and natural processes.
Observed textures and marks inform print and stitch, while cloth is coloured with local, hand-processed earth pigments. Precious, valuable materials, despite their humble origins, they link directly to place, inviting viewers to consider their own connection with nature. Terry's Gallery |
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